Should progressives create an alternative to the Chamber of Commerce?

[Tony_FLADEM]

The Chamber of Commerce has become more extreme in the last few years opposing anything that helps workers, consumers and helps preserve our environment.

There are business people that support such things as a minimum wage, preserving worker safety standards, expanding health care coverage and some actually believe global warming and elevated Carbon Dioxide levels are a problem. And some see Corporations having too much power as a bad thing.


Would this be beneficial politically for Democrats?

[MadMaddie]

1. Absolutely!

The Chamber of Commerce is poison to American Workers.

[stray cat]

2. With whose money? Would workers and progressives dontate and fund it?

[Tony_FLADEM]

6. Yes, those who would join would fund it.

Progressives are not anti-business. It's just that sometimes other stakeholders need to be considered on a given issue. The Chamber of Commerce only takes into consideration the interest of businesses to the exclusion of everyone else.

[Sanity Claws]

3. Good idea

I'd like to see an organization that works with workers, businesses, schools, philanthropists to improve/support the communities in which they are located.

[ldf]

4. absolutely

but that would require some sort of progressive organization, with progressive leaders to offer them.

we should offer alternatives to every situation, at every level.

then we would just have to worry about getting the alternatives out there. afterall, all that exists is a mainstream media that is willing to fabricate, print, and broadcast lies at every opportunity, to increase their profits.

[notesdev]

5. You mean, like...

... a workers' union? A radical idea, indeed!

[Tony_FLADEM]

8. I mean an organization where business people and workers have common ground

Workers are not anti-business because they need the jobs. On the other hand, not all business people are as radical as the Chamber Of Commerce. They understand that sometimes the interest of other parties need to be taken into consideration.

[DBoon]

13. Maybe even a union of unions?

an American Federation of Labor!

Who could have imagined!

[Brickbat]

14. Or a Congress of Industrial Organizations...hmmmmmm....

:think:

[AndyA]

7. Like a Chamber of Balance?

One that actually recognizes the importance of a growing commerce and the necessity of a balance between profit and fairness and worker's rights?

[Tony_FLADEM]

9. You could call it that I suppose

[ThomCat]

10. Why? The purpose of a CoC is to pitch business and their interests.

Do we really need to create another organization to do this?

How could that be progressive in any possible way?

[demmiblue]

12. My state's CoC ran political ads for a republican last election cycle.

Needless to say, I was gobsmacked when I read the fine print on the ad.

Other than that nugget, I think I will sit this one out because I do not have enough background knowledge on this topic.


:hi:

[Abq_Sarah]

11. Local chambers support local business

My local Chamber of Commerce exists to support local businesses and our community. They aren't pushing the agenda of the national organization. They provide support for small businessmen and people who are trying to start their own business.

[Merlot]

15. There's one already called "green chamber"

I think they are positioning themselves to be a progressive c of c

sorry, no link